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Actor Michael Keaton Ruminates on Last Ape Standing

“This book has a way of making you feel magnificently insignificant and at the same time an essential, vital part of the chain of human evolution. Just when you thought you were fully evolved as a human…think again. Mind blowing stuff!”

Michael Keaton is well-known for his roles in Tim Burton’s Batman films, his wild, comic turn as Beetlejuice, voicing Ken in Toy Story III and many great comic and dramatic roles. There aren’t many actors in Hollywood over the past 30 years who have shown more breadth and depth and style.

I met Mike long before he played any of these roles when he showed up at a party at my apartment on Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh. He was 23 years old and had just returned from working on an Indian reservation out west and was about to return to his job on the set of Mr. Rogers where he operated the trolley! When we met, I instantly realized two things. (1) He was the funniest person I had ever come across. (2) He was one of the most genuine people I had ever come across. We’ve been close friends ever since.

Over the years I’ve learned to appreciate not only how smart Mike is, but how curious and insightful, which is why his thoughts about Last Ape Standing mean so much to me.

"This book has a way of making you feel magnificently insignificant and at the same time an essential, vital part of the chain of human evolution. Just when you thought you were fully evolved as a human...think again. Mind blowing stuff!"
Michael Keaton is well-known for his roles in Tim Burton's Batman films, his wild, comic turn as Beetlejuic